Cable tension device.



Patented Dec. I0, I90].

cation filed Jan.

f L. WILSON. LE TENSION DEVICE.

( pp a, 1901.

(No Model.)

Y I I *6 Aw 77 H 1 31,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR L. WIL'SON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CABLE TENSION DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,454, dated December 10, 1901. Application filed January 8, 1901. Serial No. 42,569. (No model) To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the count-y of King, andin the State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Cable Tension Device for Use on Wire Cables on Pile-Driver Hammers, of which the follow ing is a specification;

The object of my invention is togive a springing movement to wire rope or cable used on steam pile-drivers and hoisting apparatus, where wire rope or cable is found too unyielding for rapid Work.

To this end my invention comprises, generally stated, a tension-spring resting between two plates around a heavy bolt or rod which fills the center or core of said spring (thus keeping the coils of said spring in proper position when compressed) inside a square wrought-metal frame, which is held together by two plates, the lower one of which rests loosely on the shoulder or seat formed by the base of said frame. The upper plate rests on shouldered or seated posts or rods and is secured by means of keyed nuts. A movable or sliding plate rests inside said frame, to which issecured, by means of a keyed nut or bur, the cable bolt or rod, to which is fastened the rope or cable. The lower part of said frame is secured to the hammer or tools on which it is to be used by a bolt which passes through the clevis-plate forming the base of said frame and the eye or clevis or hammer-head, as the case may be. As the strain is applied the spring is compressed, and as it is released the cable-bolt is thrown back with considerable force toward the lower plate, on which rests a spring and rubber block to receive the recoil of said bolt or rod.

The particular improvements comprising my invention will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a full-length and side View of my cable tension device. Fig. 2 shows front quarter of same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each figure.

the square plate G.

madero'und and threaded at the upper end to form the shoulder or seat on which rests The lower ends of said rods are welded to the clevis-plate I at the base of the said frame which forms the shoulder or seat f, on which rests the square plate H, which has a square hole in each corner diagonally to the square of said plate, through which pass the square rods allowing said plate to rest on the seat f thus holding the lower part of the frame together. The square plate G is provided with round holes in each corner, through which are inserted the upper ends of the rods A, and the said plate is jammed down on the seat f and secured from loosening by means of the keyed nuts y. The belt or rod 0, having the eye or loop din the upper end, to which is fastened the cable x, (by means of splice or clamps, preferably clamps,) passes through a hole in the center of the plate G and through the center or core of the spring B. The lower end of said bolt or rod is threaded and out enough smaller to form the seat I). The square plate D, which rests inside the frame square with the rod A and diagonally to the square of the frame, is provided with a hole in the center, through which the threaded end of the rod or bolt 0 is passed and is jammed against the seat by means of the keyed nut 11 The spring 13 is made of suitable strength and tension, according to the use to which it is applied, and rests between the plates G and D inside the frame, which forms a guide for the plate D, which moves up and down in said frameas the spring is compressed and relaxed.

On the plate H rests the flat arched spring E, to which is fastened the rubber block F by means of the rivet K, said springH being provided with a square slot in each end of sufficient size to admitthe posts or rods A, and with end play enough to allow said spring to be sprung down without striking the rods A, which pass through said holes in the spring F at opposite corners of said frame. I design this spring and. rubber block to protect the plate H from the recoil of the bolt 0, caused by the releasing of the spring B. I

deem this spring and rubber block sufficient for all general purposes, as on the ordinary drophammers of medium weights, or for hoisting purposes in general, when a small cable tension device with a light spring is desired, a rubber block of sufficient thickness and large enough to fit closely inside the frame on the plate H will be all that is required; but in cases where the cable tension deviceis designed for extra heavy work, using the spring B of extraordinary tension, as would be used on steamhammers of great weight or specially-heavy drop-hammers, I would prefer to use a short spiral spring of the proper tension in the place of the arched spring E. Said spring should be of sufficient diameter to rest loosely inside the frame on the plate H. On the top of said spring should rest an iron plate of sulficient thickness and strength, the exact duplicate of plate 11, with the rod A passing through said plate in the same manner as through the plate H, loosely enough to allow said plate to move up and down on the rods A. To said plate should be fastened the rubber block F in the same manner as on the spring E.

The clevis-plate I, which forms the base of the frame, extends far enough below the plate H to admit the eye or clevis of the hammer between said plates. The bolt m, having a head at one end and thread on the other, passes through the hammer-clevis a and the clevis-plate I, securing the cable tension device to the hammer by means of the nut 0 Should the clevis or eye of the hammer fail to fill the space between the clevis-plate I, said space should be filled with washers. I should prefer to dispense with the eye or clevis and attach the cable tension device to the hammer-headj in the same manner as to the clevis a.

My improved cable tension device is efficient for the purposes intended and has special advantages in pile-driving with wire ropes or-cable in providing for the same the spring necessary for rapid work, though it may be employed to advantage also in many other uses on wire cable. It is also simple in construction and adapted to heavy strains and can be easily and quickly taken apart and put together when repairs are necessary or a spring of different tension is required.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cable tension device the square frame having the plate H resting on the seat 'f of the clevis-plate I and the plate G se- ARTHUR L. WILSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. LADD MUNN, FLAVIUS J. GEORGE. 

